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Throughout the past decade the Donegal Quay area within Belfast Harbour has undergone a monumental transformation becoming a destination in its own right. With pioneering design and exceptional sustainability credentials City Quays one, two and three have collectively become an economic enabler for the region. Whilst the AC Hotel by Mariott has established City Quays as a destination point. Current and future developments in the area aim to maintain and strengthen the core values of City Quays – building a sustainable, connected and contemporary neighbourhood to create an iconic waterfront for Belfast.
Established in 1847, Belfast Harbour is Belfast’s port authority and operates the principal maritime gateway on the island of Ireland. The harbour estate covers an area of 2,000 acres and is also Northern Ireland’s logistics and distribution hub and home to major businesses including Baker McKenzie, Capita, CitiGroup, Investec and Santander.
2014
In July 2014, the City Quays masterplan received outline planning permission. The following year City Quays 1 was complete. The building was the first office space constructed within the harbour estate and was the beginning of the City Quays journey.
2017
Not long after, City Quays 2 was completed in 2017. Set across 10 floors, this Grade A office space is now home to many renowned businesses occupiers and serviced at City Quays, Belfast harbours bespoke office offering.
2018
Complementing the growing City Quays development, the AC Hotel by Mariott was the next addition to the waterfront. Completed in 2018, the 188-bed hotel features renowned restaurateur Jean-Christoph Novelli’s first eatery in Northern Ireland. The AC Hotel has fast become a first-choice hotel for travellers and locals alike.
2022
An exciting addition to the area, City Quays 3 was completed in 2022, the building offers the highest class of office space found in Northern Ireland, acquiring both BREEAM Excellent Standard and Wired Score Platinum Accreditation.
2024
In the first quarter of 2024, planning permission was granted for City Quays 4, marking the first residential phase of the wider City Quays regeneration. The approval includes 256 build-to-rent apartments, completing a key part of the waterfront development and offering high-quality city-centre living. As part of this, permission was also granted for an associated affordable housing scheme comprising 69 homes on Pilot Street, Sailortown. Spread across two adjacent sites, this element includes a mix of one- and two-bedroom apartments, a wheelchair-accessible unit, and three Mews-style houses. Designed to enhance the surrounding area and complement existing housing, the development contributes to the transformation of the Belfast waterfront into a vibrant and inclusive urban neighbourhood.
2025
Sustainability is a key value of City Quays, therefore at the heart of this newly established neighbourhood is City Quays Gardens, where the celebration of maritime heritage seamlessly blends with environmentally conscious design. The gardens have been created with environmental excellence at its core and designed to be Northern Ireland first One Planet Living public space.
The future of City Quays is focused upon on creating a connected, vibrant neighbourhood for future residents, workers and those visiting. City Quays 5 will be at the forefront of this vision, combining office, retail and leisure space to support a thriving new place within the city centre.
